The Philippine managed to stay out of the US Trade Representative’s Special 301 Report’s counterfeit watchlist for 14 years in a row.
According the Special 301 Report, the Philippines’ efforts to curb privacy was highlighted with the recent launch of a new e-Commerce Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The USTR noted the Philippines intention to focus on protecting consumers and merchants engaged in e-commerce transactions including from the sale of counterfeit goods online.
It mentioned how the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines continued the public and private engagement to observe IP regulations through fora and special programs with the academe.
The IPOPHL organized an “IP and Citizen Journalism for Schools” program for youths, launched a “Pirated Inferno” comic and collaborated with stakeholders on an anti-piracy campaign in 2023 and early 2024.
Meanwhile, the USTR reported Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and Venezuela.
The Special 301 Report is the USTR’s annual review of the adequacy and effectiveness of the IP rights protection and enforcement practices of over 100 US trading partners.